Owen Developments - suppliers to the BTCC, Indy Lights and MINI Challenge and multiple Championship winners - is pleased to announce that the next step in the companies history is here; the Owen Developments GBT Turbocharger range.

Drift Allstars British Drift GP and BTRA Rd 2 at Pembrey

So last weekend saw beautiful weather for the British Drift GP and British Truck Racing Association, but would Steve Rothery hold onto his Championship lead? Would Jack Shanahan's incredible run of results come to an end, and would it end at the hand of James Deane's new car? Only one way to find out...

Drift Allstars

The quest to find Europe’s top drifter started with the British Drift GP at the weekend as Drift Allstars held its opening round in sun and clear skies on a custom course in central London. On hand representing Owen turbos were reigning BDC Champion Mike Marshall (ODGT3582HTA-M), reigning IDC Champion James Deane (ODGTX3582R-M), BDC Super-Pro points leader Jack Shanahan (GTX4088R), Ricky Emery (ODGT3582HTA-M) and Mark Webb (ODGTX3076R-M). The combination of high temperatures and a very bumpy track would be sure to take their toll on the drivers and cars.

One driver who should have been near the very top was James Deane, but this was the first time out for his new S14 powered by a 2JZ and a new car nearly always means teething trouble. With transmission issues in practice it was a battle for track time before qualifying, though with the help of his team he was back out and scored a 94 to comfortably qualify. The transmission gremlins would come back though in his Top 16 battle, breaking the input shaft while James was holding an advantage which would have carried him through. All-in, an encouraging if frustrating competition debut for the new car. Mark Webb and Ricky Emery both had difficult days with neither qualifying in the end. Webb’s new RX7 FD3S build was still very much incomplete just days and hours before the event; the fact that he made it to the event with the car was a feat in itself. When it’s been refined we’ll see what it can really do! Jack Shanahan and Michael Marshall both qualified well before dropping out in the battles, Shanahan making it to the final 8 before being eliminated.

The order of the Top 4 would be decided by default; the battles resulted in two crashed cars and one (spectacularly) blown engine spewing oil all over the track, symptomatic of the harshness of the temporary circuit on the drivers and cars. The final order was Piotr Wiecek followed by Janis Eglite and Dan Chapman. Next time; Sosnova Circuit in the Czech Republic and hopefully a better day for our guys!

British Truck Racing Association

The British Truck Racing Association was at Pembrey Circuit in South Wales for the Championships second event of the year. Owen’s supported Steven Powell (ODGT4205HTA) and Steve Rothery (ODGT4205HTA) go into the event third and first in their class in the Championship respectively, would they be able to hold onto that after four frantic races?

The first race set a trend for the weekend; both Owens supported drivers would qualify well, including two pole positions, before gradually dropping back in the races. The lack of race pace in Rothery’s truck had its root in the brakes of his truck allowing the likes of Simon Reid, Ryan Smith, Steve Powell and Graham Powell to catch and pass him. His highest finish of the weekend was a battling third, not bad with intermittent brake issues!

All this drama contributed to Rothery losing two Championship positions; one to Steve Powell who moves up to second and Simon Reid takes the lead, but only six points clear of the Owen boosted pair. When the BTRA rolls into Thruxton next month the Championship lead will be well within reach; if pole positions and podiums are up for grabs with intermittent brakes then what can they achieve with no mechanical issues?